People of the Upper Skagit Sept 9-11, 2016

A three-day tour of Ross Lake with archaeologists and historians.

Experience the wilderness setting of Ross Lake and learn about the cultural history of the spectacular Skagit Valley. From a comfortable perch aboard a power boat, at our base camp, and on hiking trails, you’ll hear vivid accounts spanning 10,000 years of indigenous presence in these mountains, as well as more recent stories from explorers, miners, fire lookouts, park rangers and Beat poets. We’ll spend our days exploring canyons, meadows and waterfalls, taking time for botanical forays and exploration of archaeology in the Upper Skagit.

You’ll be in the company of experienced people who love the Skagit, led by retired staff of North Cascades National Park – Bob Mierendorf and Gerry Cook. With more than 65 years of experience between them, Bob and Gerry possess a trove of local knowledge and intimacy with the North Cascades, making this a backcountry adventure you’ll never forget.

You’ll get to see amazing places in the Skagit! A powered boat will allow us to explore the shores of Ross Lake and access the Big Beaver Valley where old-growth forests of Western Redcedar are found. We’ll also hike to beautiful Hozomeen Lake.

Hope Mountain Centre and the North Cascades Institute are hosting this three-day tour, bringing together an audience of Americans and Canadians. We’ll camp together for two nights in a secluded spot beside Ross Lake, sharing potluck dinners and fascinating stories.

Educational Highlights:
1. Pacific Northwest native people and their relationship to the land
2. Toolstones and plant/animal resources that made the Skagit important to First Nations
3. Flintknapping demonstration
4. Gold rushes and hydroelectric battles in the Skagit
5. Field visits to Big Beaver Valley and Hozomeen Lake
6. Evening presentations by guest speakers

Moderate hiking will take place each day – the most demanding hike will be to Hozomeen Lake (10km round-trip, 370 metres elevation gain). All trails are well-established (no bushwhacking!) but there may be rough sections with some tripping hazards (rocks, tree roots, etc.)

From 1:00 PM onward – Arrive at campsite beside Ross Lake, on the U.S. side of the border (see map). Choose from the campsites reserved nearby.

5:00 PM – Potluck dinner at cabin.

7:30 PM – Evening presentation.

* Not to worry if you can’t get to Ross Lake by 1:00 PM. Registered participants can arrive at camp all afternoon, but please aim to arrive no later than 5:00 PM on Friday.

POTLUCK DINNERS:
On Friday night, the Americans will feed the Canadians dinner (5:00PM). On Saturday night, the Canucks feed the Yanks!

All Canadians should bring a dish big enough to feed 6 or 8 people. Canadian program director Kelly Pearce will bring tabbouleh salad and chicken for the barbecue. Please add any dishes you wish, and be sure to bring a cooler and ice to keep things refrigerated.

WEATHER/CLOTHING:
Bring warm clothes for the evening and rain gear in case it gets wet. There’s a chance of precipitation all weekend, but amounts are expected to be low in the Skagit due to its relative “rain shadow” climate compared to Hope. Sunday is moving toward sunshine, according to the latest CBC weather report.

SHELTER:
Hope Mountain Centre will bring pop-up tents, folding tables, and folding chairs. There is also a log cabin at camp where we can cook and find extra shelter. Participants are encouraged to bring their own camp chairs, table, and pop-up shelters. Be sure to check the “What To Bring” section on our Web site for a complete list.

Participants will need their own vehicles to drive to the Hozomeen Group Campsite beside Ross Lake. The Silver-Skagit Road is 60 km of gravel to Ross Lake. The road is graded every spring and well maintained, so any 2-wheel-drive vehicle can travel the road. Trucks and SUVs are not required.

Camping and field trips will take place in the United States, so all Canadian citizens should carry a driver’s license. Valid passport is also recommended.

Water transport will take place on “The Ross Mule,” a converted landing craft used for decades by the U.S National Parks Service to shuttle people and materials up and down Ross Lake. Personal flotation devices (life jackets) will be available to all participants.

The Hozomeen Group Campsite beside Ross Lake is accessible by car, with parking available near the camp. Facilities are rustic and include the following:
* Pit toilet
* Tenting sites
* Covered cooking shelter
* Bear-proof food cache
* Fire ring and benches
* Drinking water is available at campground

Everyone age 19 & over must sign a liability waiver form in order to participate in this program. Please take the time to read this form because you must understand and agree to it when you sign it. By signing it you are waiving certain rights, including the right to sue. These forms will be available to sign when you check in. Please seek legal counsel if you have any questions.

If a registration is cancelled 7 days or more before a program starts, HMCOL will refund the program fee and equipment rental fees (as applicable) minus an administrative cost of $20 per person. Program and equipment rental fees will not be refunded if a cancellation is received less than 7 days before the start of a program. A program may be cancelled at the discretion of HMCOL. If a program is cancelled, participants will receive a full refund of program and equipment fees.

A NOTE ABOUT LIABILITY

Hope Mountain Centre carries liability insurance and maintains excellent safety records. Due to the nature of outdoor programs, these trips do involve some personal risk. Hope Mountain Centre assumes no responsibility for personal injury or damage to personal property and we will require each participant to sign a liability release and assumption of risk form before participating in this program. Please be aware that activities typical of this program involve many risks, dangers and hazards including, but not limited to: accidents which occur during transportation or travel to and from events; slips and falls; loss of balance; impact, cold water immersion; repetitive strain injuries; dislocated shoulders; hypothermia, frostbite, sunburn; changing and inclement weather conditions including storms, blizzards, whiteouts and high wind; steepness of terrain, tree wells, crevasses; avalanches, cornices, landslides and falling ice, snow and objects; encounters with domestic or wild animals; negligence on the part of releasees and other participants.

While we love animals of all kinds, we ask that you please leave pets at home.

PROGRAM PARTNERS

Explore the many natural and cultural wonders of Ross Lake.

ONLINE REGISTRATION CLOSED. For more information, please call 604-869-1274 or email at lklassen@hopemountain.org.

LEADERS

Bob Mierendorf

Guest Speaker

Bob was North Cascades National Park’s archaeologist until his retirement in 2013. He maintains his interest in research and publishing, teaching and speaking about Pacific Northwest archeology, paleoecology and the long history of Salish peoples of the North Cascades. Skiing and hiking in the North Cascades, he continues his decades-long internship at UpRiver University where Momma Nature is the instructor.

Katie Roloson

Guest Speaker

Katie earned her M.Ed. in Environmental Education through the North Cascade Institute's graduate residency program with Western Washington University and has a B.A. in philosophy, theology and psychology from King's College University. She has a background in fine arts, culinary arts, sports exercise and dietetics and has experience educating youth and adults in a variety of fields.

Gerry Cook

Guest Speaker

Gerry is a retired National Park Service designer and boat Captain. He has guided countless groups of youth and families on Ross Lake in his beloved North Cascades National Park. Gerry is a generous storyteller and supporter of wilderness. He remains active both on the trail and as a North Cascades Institute board member.

AJ Fedoruk

Guest Speaker

AJ is a Canadian Ranger/Interpreter who works in Skagit Valley Provincial Park. She will be sharing her knowledge of the Skagit with us during the weekend. Her educational work is aided by the Skagit Environmental Endowment Commission (SEEC), an international body that supports education, research, and recreation in the watershed upstream of Ross Dam.

Kelly Pearce

HMC Program Director

Kelly was a naturalist at Manning Provincial Park for 14 years and knows the Cascade Mountains well. Kelly also has a detailed knowledge of the natural and human history of the area and will introduce you some of the human history/conservation battles of the valley.